This UNESCO World Heritage site is 115 km from Espira de l’Agly. La Cité de Carcassonne is a fortified town by the river Aude. It looks majestic from the A61 motorway. The Château de Quéribus (30km), Château de Peyrepertuse (38km), Château de Aguilar (23km), Château de Puilaurens (49km) and Château de Termes (56km) are the ‘5 sons’ of Carcassonne (5 castles defending the border with Aragon and later Spain).